METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FLAVORING SMOKELESS TOBACCO
An encapsulated flavorant or artificial sweetener for use with smokeless tobacco and related products. The encapsulated flavorant or artificial sweetener comprises a core encapsulated with a lipid-based coating that provides stability when in contact with tobacco, yet releases flavor over time when the product is used. The core comprises a carrier, such as silica, tobacco, beet fiber, citrus fiber, artificial sweetener, or the like, coated or loaded with a flavorant. Flavor loading may be in the range of approximately 10% to 60%, by weight. Flavorants include, but are not limited to, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), cinnamon (e.g., cinnamon oil), peppermint (e.g., peppermint oil), and spearmint (oil of spearmint).
1 . (canceled)
2 . A flavor composite comprising:
a solid core including
a carrier, and
a flavorant, an amount of the solid core ranging from 10 weight percent to 60 weight percent by weight of the flavor composite; and
a lipid layer at least partially surrounding the solid core.
3 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein an amount of the carrier ranges from 24 weight percent to 51 weight percent by weight of the flavor composite.
4 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the amount of the flavorant ranges from 14 weight percent to 34 weight percent by weight of the flavor composite.
5 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the lipid layer is a continuous layer.
6 . The flavor composite of claim 5 , wherein the lipid layer encapsulates the solid core.
7 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the lipid layer includes a monoglyceride, a triglyceride, or both a monoglyceride and a triglyceride.
8 . The flavor composite of claim 7 , wherein the lipid layer includes 50 weight percent of the monoglyceride by weight of the lipid coating and 50 weight percent of the triglyceride by weight of the lipid coating.
9 . The flavor composite of claim 7 , wherein the lipid layer includes a ratio of the monoglyceride to the triglyceride of 10:90.
10 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein an amount of the lipid layer ranges from 30 weight percent to 50 weight percent by weight of the flavor composite.
11 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein an amount of the solid core ranges from 20 weight percent to 30 weight percent by weight of the flavor composite.
12 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the carrier includes beet fiber, citrus fiber, coffee beans, silica, artificial sweetener, ground cinnamon, tobacco, or any combination thereof.
13 . The flavor composite of claim 12 , wherein the artificial sweetener includes saccharin, aspartame, or both saccharin and aspartame.
14 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the flavor composite has a particle size ranging from 1 millimeter to 3 millimeters.
15 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the lipid coating further comprises:
a coloring agent.
16 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the flavorant includes methyl salicylate, cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint, sweetener, or any combination thereof.
17 . The flavor composite of claim 16 , wherein the sweetener includes saccharin, aspartame, or a combination of saccharin and aspartame.
18 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the flavorant is a non-liquid.
19 . The flavor composite of claim 18 , further comprising:
a liquid flavor admixed with the carrier.
20 . The flavor composite of claim 2 , wherein the carrier has a particle size ranging from 125 micrometers to 1,000 micrometers.
21 . A smokeless tobacco product including the flavor composite of claim 12 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product has a moisture content greater than 30%.